Toronto FC bolsters backline by signing veteran centre back Walker Zimmerman

Nashville SC defender Josh Bauer (22) and defender Walker Zimmerman, second from left, celebrate their respective goal and assist against CF Montréal as Nashville SC midfielder Gastón Brugman, and midfielder Alex Muyl, right, also celebrate during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

TORONTO — Toronto FC bolstered its backline Friday by signing free-agent centre back Walker Zimmerman, a two-time MLS Defender of the Year, through the 2027-28 MLS season.

The 32-year-old U.S. international has spent 13 years in Major League Soccer with FC Dallas, Los Angeles FC and most recently Nashville SC. Along the way, he became a five-time MLS Best XI honouree, four-time MLS all-star and two-time MLS Defender of the Year (2020 and ’21).

The native of Lawrenceville, Ga., had won 45 caps for the United States and served as American captain.

“As free agency approached this off-season, Walker’s name was at the top of our list given his pedigree both on the pitch and in the locker-room,” Toronto general manager Jason Hernandez said in a statement. “A player of his stature provides us with quality, experience and a track record of delivering defensive results in MLS.

“Beyond his on-field performances, his leadership, intensity and professionalism will be instrumental in our ongoing efforts to build a winning culture at our club. He has been a difference-maker at every place he has played and we are excited to begin this journey together.”

With Toronto declining the 2026 contract options on veteran defenders Kevin Long, Raoul Petretta and Sigurd Rosted, experience was needed in the backline alongside 19-year-old Lazar Stefanović, 22-year-old Zane Monlouis and 23-year-old Nicksoen Gomis.

Veteran goalkeeper Sean Johnson has also moved on, signing as a free agent with D.C. United after Toronto elected not to exercise his 2026 contract option.

Zimmerman’s signing follows Toronto’s acquisition of Brazilian left back Matheus Pereira from Portuguese side CD Santa Clara. TFC has signed the 25-year-old through the 2027-28 MLS season, with a club option for 2028-29.

Toronto (6-14-14) finished out of the playoffs for the fifth straight season in 2025. But its defence improved under first-year head coach Robin Fraser, a former two-time MLS Defender of the year himself.

TFC finished tied for seventh in the league on defence, conceding 1.29 goals a game on average.

Hernandez continues his search for a marquee attacker with Toronto tied for 27th in offence last season, averaging 1.9 goals a game.

Zimmerman is arguably TFC’s biggest defensive acquisition since Drew Moor arrived from the Colorado Rapids in December 2015 as the club’s first free-agent MLS signing. Then-GM Tim Bezbatchenko called Moor “a key piece in the puzzle.”

With Moor marshalling the backline, Toronto’s goals-against total dropped from a league-worst 58 in 2015 to 39 in 2016. TFC made it to the MLS Cup final, only to lose to the Seattle Sounders via penalty shootout. Toronto and Seattle met again in the 2017 championship game, with Toronto winning 2-0.

Moor started in both finals. But he did not dress for the 2019 championship game in Seattle (a 3-1 loss to the Sounders), dropping out of the matchday 18 when striker Jozy Altidore returned from a quad injury, and returned to Colorado after the 2019 season.

Zimmerman, who has appeared in 307 MLS regular-season and playoff games, has led Nashville since its 2020 expansion season. He appeared in 172 games across all competitions during his six seasons with Nashville, scoring 16 goals.

He appeared in 21 league games, including 16 starts, in a 2025 campaign interrupted by a concussion and knee injury,

He won’t come cheap, having made $3,456,979 (all figures in U.S. dollars) as a designated player last season, according to the MLS Players Association.

Zimmerman will not be a DP with Toronto, which instead used targeted allocation money to sign him. TAM can be used to buy down the salary cap hit of a player whose salary is above the maximum salary budget charge, which was $743,750 in 2025.

“Toronto FC has such a rich history of success in MLS,” said Zimmerman. “When the opportunity came to represent this club and city, it was an easy decision, I can’t wait to compete alongside my new teammates and perform for some of the best fans in the league as we chase trophies together.”

FC Dallas took Zimmerman in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft out of Furman University.

Dallas traded him to expansion Los Angeles FC in December 2017 for $250,000 in general allocation money and $250,000 in targeted allocation money. The teams also swapped allocation order picks with Dallas taking LAFC’s No. 1 spot and LAFC moving down to No. 11.

LAFC traded Zimmerman to Nashville in February 2020 in a deal worth up to $1.1 million in general allocation money plus a 2020 international roster spot.

Zimmerman helped FC Dallas to the MLS Supporters’ Shield and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in 2016.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 2, 2026.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press